Phonograph record



July' 22, 1941. B. H. sHUEMAKER PHONOGRAPH RECORD Filed Nov. 8f 1940 SMM B. glzzcemcze Patented July 22, 1 941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to phonograph records. An object of this invention is to provide a phonograph record which is formed as a combined article of novelty and utility. Y

Another object of this invention is to provide a phonograph record which is formed with a wooden body or base and a composition coating enclosing the body or base, the composition being of sucha character that recording grooves may .readily be cut thereinto and the tonal vibrations retained in the grooves of the composition coatmg.

Another object of this invention is to provide a phonograph record of this kind which is formed with a wooden body or base and a substantially which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detailplan view of a phonograph I record constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

' Figure 3 is a fragmen'tary plan view of the Wooden body before -it is coated.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates generally a disc-shaped phonograph record constructed according to an embodiment of transparent coatingwhich is adapted to receive and retain the -recording grooves.

vA further object of this invention is to provide a phonograph record of this kind which is adapted to be formed out of wood which is indigenous to a particular locality and which is also pleasing in appearance, the wood being preferably o'f the type known as burl and the coating about the body is of a transparent characteristic so as to not only display the burl in the wood fibers in addition to the coloring of the wood, but also to act as a preservative for the wood.

A son further object omhis' invention is to provide animproved method of forming a phonograph record which includes the initial cutting of a disc-shaped body and the dipping of the b ody for a number of times into a transparent coating solution which is so formed that it will readily retain a recording groove and permit the transmission of the recording on a conventional phonograph. v

A further object of this invention is to provide a phonograph record of this kind which will not readily break and which is provided with a coating which will not readily burn, the coatthe formation of the disc-shaped body as a very '40 ing being of such a characteristic as to permit thin element, the coating acting to hold thebody against splitting and the entire structure being very light in weight so that it may be easily 4shipped through the mails without danger of breakage.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more speciilcally referred to and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing wherein are shown embodiments -of thel invention, but it is to be understood thatA changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to this invention. 'I'he record I0 comprises a discshaped body II which is formed out of burl wood such as redwood, maple or pepperwood burl. The body II is formed of a particular kind of wood which is representative of a particular geographic location and is designed as a display means in the form of a souvenir which may be purchased and retained for an indefinite period.

The body II after being cut in disc shape is formed with a central opening I3 for receiving the spindle of a phonograph machine and the body II may also be formed with a second opening I2 which is oifset from the opening I 3. The

opening I2 may be provided for the purpose of receivingan offset pin which is carried by a recording instrument so that Ythe disc member II will be held against rotation relative to the rotating recording table ofthe recording instrument. In order to provide a means whereby the opposite faces and valso the marginal edge portions of the body II may be coated in order to permit the cutting of a recording groove therein, I have provided a transparent coating I4 which is of initially liquid form and in which the body Il is initially dipped. The coating I4. not only engages the opposite faces of the body Il, rbut as shown in Figure 2 at I5, the coating I4 engages about the outer marginal edge portion of the body II. The coating which is applied to the body II is preferably formed of a4 mixture of cellulose, lacquer or acetate and beeswax. The cellulose and lacquer are mixed together in equal parts and each dipping.- The coating material will not only be absorbed intothe fibers ofthe body II, but

`shaped body Il.

ing will readily retain the recording groove and the recording track may be formed simultaneous with the cutting of the groove IB. After the desired recording groove and track'has been formed in one or more faces of the coating material, the

record I0 may be placed on a phonograph with i Ythe spindle projecting through the central hole` It will be understood that the body ll may be oi' such thin construction that it might warp slightly but due to the light construction of the body I I and the coating I4 thereon, this unevenness in the body Il will -not materially affect the character of the recording impressed on one or more faces of the record.

Preferably the wood from which the body II is made is of a knotty or burl conguration so as to thereby provide a pleasing or artistic structure which will be characteristic of the particular geographic location from which the article isy purchased.

The coating` material Il is relatively tough in composition when dried so that this coating material will provide a reinforcing means for the wooden body Il.

The body II may be made out of redwood, maple, pepperwood or other fine grained wood which has highly conspicuous configurations thereonso that the body II will form an attractive article which is Very light in construction and will Withstandexceedingly hard usage. It is well known that ordinary composition phonograph records will quicklybreak when dropped Whereas a phonograph record constructed according to this invention will withstand hard shocks and will thus last indenitely. Y

The coating I4 gives the appearance of a varnished coating for the body II and at places Where the record groove I6 is'not out into the coating I4, the outer surface of the coating Il' is of high gloss.

What I claim is:

A phonograph record comprising an integral composite body formed of a disc-like inner section of burl wood, and a relatively thick transl parent outer section completely enclosing the inner section and formed from an initially liquid subsequently stiiened vcomposition of cellulose lacquer and beeswax, said outer section possessing a characteristic to receive and retain the sound tracks. y

BENJAMIN H. SHUEMAKER. 

